Now that's more like it. The wind speed was higher than the peak temperature in Bismarck on Monday, just what you'd expect around here in January.

Still, it wasn't too cold. For the 16th time this month - as in, every day of 2006 - the Capital City recorded a higher-than-normal temperature. It hit 32 degrees shortly after midnight and got progressively cooler, but the midafternoon temperature of 25 still was 5 degrees warmer than the 130-year average high for the day. Sustained winds of 20 to 25 mph and gusts up to 36 mph made it feel more like 9 degrees outside Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Normal highs for January, using data compiled since 1875, are 20 to 23 degrees. The average high for each day this month has been 35 degrees. Bismarck-Mandan had two short cold snaps in December, when overnight lows dipped below zero. But we haven't reached negative numbers since Dec. 21. Lows this month have averaged 18 degrees, up from the 130-year average of zero to 2 below.

It appears things will continue to be warmer than normal. Highs through Sunday are expected to reach the mid-20s to lower 30s, according to the weather service.

Today should be mostly sunny, with a high around 28 degrees. The rest of the week is expected to be partly to mostly cloudy. Winds aren't predicted to reach more than 10 mph.

(Reach reporter Tony Spilde at 250-8260 or tony.spilde@;bismarcktribune.com.)